Caption: Graduates of the first Elevate cohort at Everett Community College with team members from Evergreen Goodwill
SEATTLE, WA — July 3, 2026 — Evergreen Goodwill of Northwest Washington is celebrating the first cohort of graduates in the ELEVATE program, a collaboration with Everett Community College (EvCC) made possible by the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC). With support from a WSAC Regional Challenge Grant and a strong network of community partners, the program helps adult learners overcome barriers to higher education and build family-sustaining careers.
Since launching with 12 students in October 2025, ELEVATE has expanded rapidly to now 61 participants, which demonstrates the urgent need for accessible education and the impact of
coordinated support for nontraditional students. Through the program, Evergreen Goodwill, EvCC, Latino Educational Training Institute (LETI), and others are working together to make sure that they can persist and succeed in college irrespective of the barriers faced. Staff provide hands-on support with everything from financial aid, enrollment, school supplies, basic needs, to career readiness.
The results speak for themselves:
- 42 students (68%) newly enrolled in college-level classes after connecting with ELEVATE;
- 5 students (8%) already completed a certificate or degree course at EvCC;
- 11 students (18%) earned a place on the President’s List;
- all students attended at least one workshop a month, with over 100 sessions offered on topics such as financial literacy, resume writing, interview prep, and community building.
ELEVATE’s success is driven by its focus on critical needs beyond the classroom, meant to reduce financial strain on participants and ensure their consistent class participation, despite complex life challenges: Many are single parents (19%) or refugees/immigrants (19%, half of these non-native English speakers). Now in college, students are pursuing a wide range of in-demand career pathways in nursing and healthcare, IT, business, early childhood education, cybersecurity, accounting, and engineering. Notably, 12 students are enrolled in EvCC’s dual-language Spanish and English Early Childhood Education program, ready to give back to their community after graduation.
“At Evergreen Goodwill, we know that people don’t fail because they lack potential, but because they face barriers that make it difficult to stay engaged in education,” said Tania Siler, Center Manager of Evergreen Goodwill's Snohomish County Job Training & Education Center. “ELEVATE helps to remove these barriers and build pathways, and the initial outcomes show what’s possible when adult learners receive the support they need to thrive.”
The program’s rapid growth underscores a broader truth: when education systems are designed around real-life challenges — including financial constraints, caregiving responsibilities, and
language access — more students succeed. Evergreen Goodwill and its partners are currently exploring opportunities to expand the ELEVATE program into the coming year, building on the early success to serve even more adult learners across Snohomish County.